Universal Design/Aging in Place

Universal Design and Aging in Place complement each other in that the goal is to allow a family to live comfortably in their home, no matter what physical challenges they may encounter. Your home should be a place that you can live safely and comfortably in for as long as you choose. A bathroom that includes a zero clearance shower entry, bench seating, a hand held shower head in addition to the one mounted on the wall, will allow members of the family to safely bathe whether they become wheel chair bound, or break a leg skiing, playing soccer – you enter the name of your favorite sport here. Universal Design and Aging in Place principles can be applied to all the rooms in your home, and as today’s baby boomers age, they are demanding that the tools to make their homes safe for years to come are designed with beauty as well as function.

The staff at Distinctive Renovations holds two certifications. Gary Fassbender is an Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), while Susan Fassbender is a Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP). The CAPS program was developed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with AARP, to train professionals in the unique needs of seniors who wish to stay in their home. The Universal Design Certified Professional program was developed by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Universal Design is based on the idea that all residential environments and products should be easily used and accessed by all members of the family, regardless of age, size, or physical abilities, throughout their lifespan. We would love to sit down with you to discuss how you can make either small, or large changes, in your home to ensure that you can live safely and comfortably for years to come.

In March 2016, Gary was part of the development team, and instructor for the first “The Costs of Aging” class, developed in conjunction with the Continuing Education Department at UW-Fox Valley. To learn more about the class, download the The-Costs-of-Aging brochure